Springfield police say meth lab found, suspect arrested in raid

Apr. 22, 2013

Larry Roach

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Springfield police faced a “volatile situation” last weekend when officers, faced with a man barricaded in an abandoned house, stormed the site of what they describe as an active meth lab.

With gas masks and other protective gear, members of the department’s Special Response Team entered the Lombard Street home and nabbed the man without injury.

“We understand the heightened danger,” said Lt. Greg Higdon.

“That’s why we train and have the proper equipment.”

Neighbors of 1630 W. Lombard knew no one was supposed to be living at the house when they saw people carrying “suspicious items” into the residence April 14, according to court documents filed against the man.

Those neighbors contacted the property owner, who reported the activity to police and asked officers to take action.

Responding officers broke out a window and immediately noticed a strong chemical smell. Officers backed off and, with a megaphone, attempted to get the occupants out of the house, according to the documents.

A woman came out willingly, but police say they had to make entry into the house to get 36-year-old Larry R. Roach, who was arrested and charged last week with meth manufacturing and resisting arrest.

He remains in the Greene County Jail on a $50,000 bond.

Court documents reveal Roach has a history of drug-related offenses, including nine arrests for drug possession and four arrests for manufacturing.

In the house, officers say they found several chemicals often used in the production of meth including lye, drain cleaner, lighter fluid and acetone.

From the ingredients, police believe meth was being made using the red phosphorus method. That recipe creates phosphine gas, which can be lethal if inhaled.

Officers say they also found packages of pseudoephedrine.

In May, Springfield City Council is expected to decide whether to further restrict pseudoephedrine in an effort to curb meth labs in the city.

Springfield police have often cited officer safety as one of the reasons the city should require a prescription for the popular sinus medicine.